GRAVETTE — Brad Amos of Gravette/Sulphur Springs and his roping partner, Blake Larmon from Jay, Okla., struck pay dirt last Tuesday at the World Series Team Roping Championship competition held at Las Vegas.

The men, whose performance topped teams from throughout the nation, are coming home asthey share the $200,000 top prize. Besides splitting the cash, each received a saddle, hat, buckle and trophy for a few seconds in the arena. They bested 19 other teams who were competing in the final round of competition.

They will be the first to tell you that “few seconds” is a misnomer. It has involved thousands of days and hours of practice in perfecting the ropingwhich enabled them to achieve the speed that resulted in their winning performance.

Amos is a 1998 graduate of Gravette High School. He grew up in the Beaty area and, according to his mother, Nancy Amos, “He’s been roping everything, including chairs, since he was a little fella. We’re (Harvey, Brad’s dad, and I) so proud of him. He’s worked so hard and for so long.”

His partner, Larmon, has had an equally rigorous training regimen in honing his skills. He and his wife Brandy live in Jay. She is the daughter of Larry and Sandy McGee of Gravette.

Just three weeks ago, Brad and his partner in that competition, Ronnie Carter of Berryville, won a $28,000-plus purse while taking the reserve champion title at the national finals of team roping held in Oklahoma City.

News, Pages 5 on 12/15/2010